Photograph Collections:
The West Pier
The West Pier is today just a ruin, a few sad fragments of iron in the middle of the sea.
I have a vague memory of being on the pier as a child. I recall paying to go on and going through the turnstiles.
Some people say it is an eyesore and that it should be removed. I guess it is but it’s also a reminder of what was once there. It still looks amazing to me especially at sunset.
A bit of West Pier history ...
The West Pier was designed by Eugenius Birch in 1866. It was the second pier to be erected in Brighton, the first being the Chain Pier.
The concert hall wasn’t added to the pier until 1916. The pier was closed to the public in 1975 due to its structure being classed as unsafe.
The pier has slowly deteriorated since. 2003 saw the collapse of the concert hall and a couple of months later it was set on fire which left just its metal frame.
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
The West Pier Burning March 2003
The West Pier Burning March 2003
The West Pier Burning March 2003
By the afternoon a smouldering steel skeleton was all that remained of the historic pier theatre. Sadly I couldn't capture the fire itself as I was working but these two photos were taken the day after the fire.
In May 2003 the concert hall was also set on fire destroying the last of the buildings on the pier.
The West Pier Burning March 2003
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
The West Pier December 3rd 2010
The West Pier December 3rd 2010
The West Pier December 3rd 2010
The West Pier December 3rd 2010
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
The West Pier December 26th 2010
The West Pier December 26th 2010
The West Pier December 26th 2010
The West Pier December 26th 2010
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
The West Pier in February 2012
The West Pier in February 2012
The West Pier in February 2012
The West Pier in February 2012
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
The West Pier in June 2014
The West Pier in June 2014
The West Pier in June 2014
Demoliton of the remains of the entrance has also started in preparation for the building of the i360.
The West Pier in June 2014
Image: (c) Carol Homewood
